[Treasure2Find]

When working with a newcomer I use these three things. I think a man only needs one thing in life. I think he needs someone to love. I have learned that if I can’t give him that then I give him something to hope for. Many times I can’t even give him that so the only thing left is to just give him something to do.
(Hence AA and the 12 Steps)

I was sponsored by a man, who was sponsored by a man, who was sponsored by a man who moved to Boston from Akron. As the story goes when AA was founded this guy was a dentist who lived in Akron. I’ve never met this person from Akron but I have sat in a room with the three others, all carry the same message and approach as this man carried. I’ve always questioned the origin and aproach I mean why start with Chapter 2-3. Here is what I came up with. Lets point out the obvious most early AA’s were in a hospital bed and knew what the Doctor’s opinion was, they were going to die from drinking. Back then I wouldn’t hand someone a book and say here read the Dr’s opinion would you, they already knew what the Dr’s opinion was? Second there is no way on Earth Bill would hand someone a book and say read my story. Bill could easily have just talked about his own experience. The book says when working with others refer to the chapter on Alcoholism chapter 3. It says to let an alcoholic make up his or her own mind, to draw his own conclusion. The chapter also tells me to dwell on the hopelessness of the malady because I offer a solution chapter 2. After my spiritual experience I stopped questioning my programs origin.

What prompted this thread was something someone asked about sponsorship. Also for the newcomer that bounces in and out of this forum struggling with cravings and fighting AA. In the end I had know one to love, there was no hope left, and I just had nothing left to do. So the first day I asked my sponsor to be my sponsor he got me to work right away. This is what he called the prescription, obviously the prescription is different for everyone but something should be talked about ASAP if it is not I would get someone else after all this disease is incurable and if left untreated fatal..

Every Morning Beg God to take away the obsession, don’t ask beg my life depends on it.
God is everything or he is nothing right from the start (Discipline)

From the Big Book Read Chapters 2-3 everyday
One chapter dwelled on the hopelessness of my condition and other presented a solution (Discipline)

Go to a mtg everyday
Got me looking at my day (Inventory) when could I fit in a mtg. (Discipline)

Sit in Intensive Care
If there was no seat in the front of the mtg I was to find one and bring it to the front of the room. I found that getting there earlier was a better option. (Discipline)

Don’t share at mtgs until you have done your fifth step.
This wasn’t because I didn’t have anything good to say. It was so that I could learn to listen to others. (Discipline)

Call every night at the same time. A time that was convenient for us both.
(Discipline)

No matter what happened during the day always Thank God
(Discipline)

These instructions did not change for the first 4-6 weeks depending on if I was willing to fully concede to my inner most self that I was Alcoholic. This was the first step in the program as outlined in the Big Book. I then moved on to chapter 4 everyday which was step 2 and another 4-6 weeks worth of reading, calls, prayer, mtgs, etc. I didn’t have any discipline when I came into AA but I found that doing this everyday I started building my foundation and started building discipline. Plus what else did I have to do as I said once love is gone, hope is vanquished, there’s nothing left but to keep busy. Go to AA, pray, read the book, make some calls, sit in the front and listen.

Today I live the steps, I'm busy as hell, hope has been restored, and I have more love in my life then I deserve. So what do I do now?

I pass it on.....